Death Penalty (Charles Singleton)

EDM number 735 in 2002-03, proposed by Kevin McNamara on 13/02/2003.

That this House notes the 12th February ruling of the United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that may establish the precedent that would allow a person on death row to be forcibly administered a drug that could make them sane enough to qualify for execution; considers that this decision insidiously undermines the 1986 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits execution of the insane; notes that the condemned man, Mr Charles Singleton, was convicted in 1979 for a fatal stabbing in Arkansas and sentenced to death; further notes that his mental health deteriorated over 26 years on death row and that in October 2001 a three-judge panel of the Circuit Court found that Mr Singleton was no longer capable of understanding his punishment without medication and commuted the death sentence to one of life imprisonment; considers that the administration of drugs to Mr Singleton in order that he might qualify for execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment treatment; further notes with disappointment that this threat follows so soon after the 4th February execution in Texas of British national, Jackie Elliott, in contempt of pleas for the court to consider DNA evidence that could have cleared his name and despite the highest level representations of Her Majesty's Government; and urges the Government to persist in its campaign for abolition of the death penalty and to make early submissions for clemency for Mr Singleton.

This motion has been signed by a total of 29 MPs.